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Glasgow Rangers head coach Philippe Clement and head of recruitment Nils Koppen looked to overhaul the playing squad during the summer transfer window.

There was a clear emphasis on lowering the average age of the squad with their work, when it came to allowing stars to leave and bringing talented prospects in.

Experienced campaigners Borna Barisic, Ryan Jack, Kemar Roofe, Connor Goldson, Scott Wright, Jon McLaughlin, and John Lundstram, among others, were allowed to move on from Ibrox.

Meanwhile, young talents like Clinton Nsiala, Connor Barron, Oscar Cortes, Hamza Igamane, Mohammed Diomande, and Jefte have been brought in.

This suggests that Rangers are looking to develop and improve young players to increase their value, whilst getting fantastic performances on the pitch, to then sell them on for a profit in the future.

Selling talent for big money has not been one of the club's strengths in recent years. As per Transfermarkt, the Light Blues have only sold one player – Calvin Bassey – for more than €15m in their history, whereas their rivals Celtic have cashed in on seven players for more than €15m.

This shows that Rangers have a lot of work to do to catch up with their neighbours and their blunder with Ryan Kent is a great example of what not to do.

Ryan Kent's first season with Rangers

Former Light Blues manager Steven Gerrard returned to his former club to sign the English winger on a season-long loan move from Liverpool in the summer of 2018.

The Reds youngster arrived at Ibrox off the back of a disappointing 2017/18 campaign, in which he produced zero goals and two assists in 17 games for Freiburg and Barnsley combined.

Kent hit the ground running in Glasgow, though, with a return of six goals and nine assists in 43 appearances in all competitions for the Scottish giants.

The left winger racked up six goals and six assists in 23 appearances in the Scottish Premiership before the top six split, which showed that he could provide regular quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals from a wide position.

His performances in the division earned him the PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year award, which speaks to how impressive his displays were during his loan spell.

Gerrard and Rangers then opted to pursue a permanent deal for the Liverpool winger and managed to agree a fee of £7.5m to snap him up on a four-year deal in the summer of 2019.

The deal was a guaranteed fee of £6.5m, with a further £1m in add-ons, and it was a huge investment by the Gers in a player who had enjoyed a terrific first season at the club.

Ryan Kent's soaring value

Kent's soaring market value and his performances on the pitch over the subsequent two years suggested that the Light Blues played a blinder by signing him for £7.5m.

The 2019/20 campaign was not an extraordinary year for the forward, with eight goals and four assists in 33 matches, but it proved that his goalscoring threat in his loan spell was not a flash in the pan.

He then exploded in the 2020/21 season with a sensational return of 13 goals and 14 assists in 52 appearances in all competitions for Gerrard, including four goals and assists combined in ten Europa League outings.

Appearances

37

Sofascore rating

7.23

Goals

10

Big chances created

9

Assists

9

Key passes per game

1.8

As you can see in the table above, 19 of those goal contributions came in the Premiership as Rangers won the title without losing a single match.

The English forward's exceptional performances as a scorer and a creator of goals earned him a place in the PFA Scotland Team of the Year that season.

Kent's superb showings in Scotland attracted interest from down south and it was reported in the summer of 2021 that Leeds United had an offer of £11m rejected and that they were lining up a £15m swoop for his services.

However, the Light Blues ultimately turned down the Whites' advances and kept hold of the attacker instead of cashing in on him when his value was double what they paid Liverpool for his services.

Rangers blundered with Ryan Kent

The decision not to accept the offer from Leeds turned out to be a howler from the Scottish giants as Kent's performances on the pitch declined.

In the 2021/22 campaign, a season in which Giovanni van Bronckhorst replaced Gerrard in the dugout, the winger produced just three goals in 46 matches in all competitions, along with 11 assists in the Premiership.

That was a serious decline from the 13 goals he scored under the former Liverpool midfielder in the 2020/21 title-winning season for Rangers.

Kent, who was once dubbed "unplayable" by journalist Andrew Dickson, followed that up with a return of just three goals and ten assists in 44 matches in all competitions during the 2022/23 campaign, with all of those contributions coming in his 29 outings in the Premiership.

This shows that the winger was unable to recapture the electric form that saw him produce 13 goals and 14 assists in his best year with the club.

In the summer of 2023, Kent's contract with the Gers expired and Michael Beale could not agree an extension with the Englishman, which meant that he walked away for nothing.

This meant that Rangers lost a star who was once valued at a whopping £15m, and a player they paid £7.5m to sign in 2019, left the club for £0 to sign for Turkish side Fenerbahce.

Therefore, the Light Blues blundered with Kent as they did not cash in on him when his value peaked and his performances declined after that, before they ended up losing him for nothing.

The £300k Rangers signing who was sold for more than Bajrami is worth

The Light Blues played a blinder by developing and selling this midfield wizard.

1 ByDan Emery Sep 11, 2024

If they are going to go down the route of developing young players under Clement in the years to come, Rangers will need to improve the timing of their sales and know when the right time to cash in on a star is, so that they avoid a repeat of the Kent disasterclass.

Every year, the release of the latest video game in the FIFA (now EA FC) series comes with up-to-date squads, new Ultimate Team challenges and a variety of gaming innovations.

But for all the groundbreaking features each edition brings, there is one thing away from the pitch that is bound to be excited about: the soundtrack.

Many songs have become synonymous with FIFA, so much so that pointing out a tune came from a specific game has been turned into something of an internet meme.

Since background music was introduced for FIFA 98, there have been hundreds of tracks used, with playlists growing all the time. In fact, EA’s website now publishes the soundtrack, such is the cultural significance that has grown over the years.

But which songs have stood the test of time? Which ones are so quintessentially ‘FIFA’ that they deserve to be remembered as such?

We’ve listed 15 of the best songs to feature on the game, ranked by taking into consideration their association with the franchise and, well, how much of a banger the tune is. We’ve even added snaps from the cover stars at the time for that extra bump of nostalgia.

Admittedly, most of these come from the tracklist’s apparent heyday, with its impact today arguably diminished compared to the last decade or so. However, that did not make this an easy task – there are simply too many great songs to choose from.

If you disagree, there’s a playlist at the bottom of the page where you can choose a favourite of your own.

Rank

Song title

Artist

Appeared on

Jerk It Out

Caesars

FIFA 2004

Song 2

Blur

FIFA 98

Dreaming

Smallpools

FIFA 14

Love Me Again

John Newman

FIFA 14

Club Foot

Kasabian

FIFA 13

Cobrastyle

Teddybears

FIFA 06

Town Called Malice

The Jam

FIFA 2004

Machu Picchu

The Strokes

FIFA 12

Black & Gold

Sam Sparro

FIFA 09

Helicopter

Bloc Party

FIFA 06

She’s Got Me Dancing

Tommy Sparks

FIFA 10

I Can Talk

Two Door Cinema Club

FIFA 11

High And Low

Empire of the Sun

FIFA 17

Kids

MGMT

FIFA 09

Complicated (Pablo La Rossa Vocal Mix)

Avril Lavigne

FIFA 2003

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ByJamie Rooke Oct 21, 2023 15 Complicated (Pablo La Rossa Vocal Mix) – Avril Lavigne FIFA 2003

This countdown starts on a relatively mellow note, but even though 20 years have passed, we still see this tune as a FIFA song above anything else. Avril Lavigne’s ‘Complicated’ features on FIFA 2003, which isn’t a game overflowing with songs – there are just 13 in total.

Perhaps that’s why it’s remained in our collective consciousness for so long; imagine playing the same 13 songs on loop for a year!

But it is more than that, of course. Lavigne’s vocal is infectious and you can’t help belting it out yourself. Once you’ve become addicted to the game (which had an iconic cover including Edgar Davids and Manchester United’s Ryan Giggs), you’ll have memorised the whole thing in no time.

14 Kids – MGMT FIFA 09

Perhaps featuring one of the best keyboard intros of its time, MGMT’s ‘Kids’ is a rousing indie anthem in its own right.

It’s one of those songs that is so good, it might be worth hanging around the menus a bit longer to let it finish. Appearing on FIFA 09 – the same year Ultimate Team made its debut – there was a lot to like about this particular edition.

13 High And Low – Empire of the Sun FIFA 17

Released in 2016, Empire of the Sun’s ‘High And Low’ is the newest song on this list. Like any good tune, it builds slowly before exploding into a ferocious pre-chorus and catchy refrain. It has all the ingredients of the ideal gaming tune.

And like many bands, Empire of the Sun have featured multiple times on the soundtrack – it seems some artists just have that ‘FIFA’ sound. ‘Alive’ was used on FIFA 14, and wouldn’t look out of place on anyone else’s lists.

12 I Can Talk – Two Door Cinema Club FIFA 11

Northern Irish rockers Two Door Cinema Club are also serial FIFA playlisters. In truth, any of their three appearances in the franchise to date could have been chosen, but FIFA 11’s ‘I Can Talk’ is arguably some of their best work.

Taken from their debut album, ‘Tourist History’, the tune involves the melodic blend of its pounding bassline, searing lead guitar and dance-worthy beat.

Not a bad tune to have in the background while signing a star striker on Career Mode.

11 She's Got Me Dancing – Tommy Sparks FIFA 10

It’s no wonder ‘She’s Got Me Dancing’ has entered the mainstream. Not only did it make an appearance on FIFA 10, but it was also used on Just Dance 3, as well as an advert for the iPod Touch (remember those?).

Not to mention, it’s also a pop sensation. It’s super catchy, and the kind of thing you’d play on repeat or continue to sing after it’s over. Given it is Tommy Sparks’ standout tune, you have to commend the EA team for finding it (or Apple, we’re not sure who got there first).

10 Helicopter – Bloc Party FIFA 06

Some bands are FIFA bands. Some songs are FIFA songs. This is both.

‘Helicopter’ by Bloc Party – who have featured three times on the FIFA soundtrack – almost immediately evokes memories of playing the game. Its opening riff makes it instantly recognisable, and it is just the kind of upbeat rock anthem to get you in the mood for a gaming session.

This game was the first of several featuring Wayne Rooney and Barcelona’s Ronaldinho on the cover – an added touch that made playing this feel special.

9 Black & Gold – Sam Sparro FIFA 09

This isn’t FIFA 09’s first mention in this list, and there are more hits on that game we simply don’t have space for. Duffy, Foals, The Kooks and, er, Tom Jones are all on the setlist.

However, Sam Sparro’s ‘Black & Gold’ is a melodic delight that could not be ignored. It has such an addictive sound to it that you want the verses to go on and on. When they eventually end, we’re treated to a solid beat that builds into the crescendo of the chorus. Magnifique.

8 Machu Picchu – The Strokes FIFA 12

Now we’re talking. The early 2010s boasts arguably the strongest run of EA soundtracks, and The Strokes’ ‘Machu Picchu’ brought their New York sound to the world of FIFA.

This song is all about the contagious post-chorus riff. If the song wasn’t already catchy enough, the riff’s melody would be enough for you to put the controller down and start air-guitaring.

7 Town Called Malice – The Jam FIFA 2004

Nowadays, songs selected for the game’s soundtrack are typically released in the 12 months preceding the current edition. For FIFA 2004, EA began to push the boat out for their tracklists, with more than double the number of songs compared to FIFA 2003.

And in the pre-YouTube age, you can forgive EA for not being able to locate the best sounds of 2003 to accompany their new game. Indeed, the likes of The Stone Roses and The Jam were on the bill.

And with what may have been youngsters’ first introduction to early-80s rock and roll, The Jam’s ‘Town Called Malice’, sung by Paul Weller, quickly became an earworm for players of the game.

You’re playing the bassline in your head right now, aren’t you?

6 Cobrastyle – Teddybears FIFA 06

We’re not sure quite what ‘di bom di deng di deng digi digi’ means, but it sounds awesome. In truth, there’s a lot to like about Teddybears’ ‘Cobrastyle’, whether it’s the addictive rhythm, catchy lyrics or THAT chorus.

Most of the lyrics come from a track by Jamaican singer Mad Cobra, who features on the track himself, hence the title of the song.

The iconic chorus is unique to the Teddybears’ version, and is a superb addition to the original, as well as to the array of FIFA bangers from over the years. This is definitely one we’d have on repeat.

Sunderland have rightly been praised for the way they have gone about their transfer business so far this summer, but they potentially risk making their first howler in their ongoing pursuit of Croatian forward Matija Frigan.

What players have Sunderland signed?

The Black Cats have so far signed Nectarios Triantis, Luis 'Hemir' Semedo, Jenson Seelt and Jobe Bellingham, with each of those aged 20 or under as the Wearside outfit look towards the future.

However, manager Tony Mowbray has made no secret of his desire to bring in another attacking player after seeing Amad Diallo return to parent club Manchester United, whilst Ross Stewart will miss the start of the new season through injury.

Having missed out on a deal for Coventry-bound Ellis Simms, who impressed on loan at the Stadium of Light in the first half of last season, Sunderland have since switched their focus elsewhere.

According to Croatian outlet Sportske Novosti, the Championship outfit have already had a first bid of £3.4m turned down for Frigan, but they may now return with a follow-up offer.

However, given the possible size of the fee involved, plus the fact that 6 foot 1 forward is untested outside of his homeland, it would surely make sense for Mowbray's men to look elsewhere.

Who is Croatian forward Matija Frigan?

Frigan has made 42 appearances in the Croatian top flight – 27 of those with current club Rijeka and the rest during a spell on loan at Hrvatski Dragovoljac in the 2021/22 campaign.

The 20-year-old frontman scored 13 goals in those 27 outings last season, with that a more-than-adequate return for a player of his age and highlighting that he is undoubtedly a big talent.

However, Football Insider previously reported that it will take an offer of £5.2m to persuade Rijeka – who is also supposedly wanted by Rangers – to cash in, which is a huge sum as far as Sunderland are concerned.

Indeed, it was previously suggested that Sunderland were out of the running to sign Simms from Everton after Ipswich Town tabled a £4m bid earlier in the window.

The Englishman later joined Coventry City in a deal that could climb to £8m.

Frigan would have to be ready to hit the ground for that sort of fee and, while he has scored fairly regularly in the Croatian top flight, that country is ranked behind the likes of Sweden, Israel, Norway and Ukraine in terms of coefficient, giving a clear indication as to the quality of the league.

That is not to say there are no gems out there waiting to be signed at the right price, particularly given the likes of Josko Gvardiol and Luka Sucic have prospered in Europe, but Frigan still only scored at a rate of 0.59 goals per 90 minutes last season, as per FBref.

To give that some perspective, Stewart scored at a rate of 0.86 goals per 90 for Sunderland in the Championship.

Whilst the Croatia U21 international is clearly a talent – a "very interesting" one in the view of football talent scout Jacek Kulig – Sunderland would be better suited to spending their money on a more tried and tested option this window as they look to improve on last season's sixth-place finish.

Crystal Palace have “made contact” to sign Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun this summer, according to reliable journalist Graeme Bailey.

Is Folarin Balogun leaving Arsenal?

Balogun is an academy graduate at the Emirates Stadium having worked his way up through the youth ranks to be handed a chance to enter the first-team fold, but having only made ten senior appearances for his boyhood club, his future is extremely uncertain.

The United States international has been sent out on two loans throughout his career in the hope of receiving more regular game time, the first being at Middlesbrough and the most recent at Stade Reims last season, where he excelled, being their top-performing offensive player in Ligue 1.

The Gunners’ 21-year-old product still has another two years remaining on his contract in N7, but having reportedly rejected the chance to discuss a new deal, there’s a strong likelihood that he will be on the move during this window, potentially to link up with Roy Hodgson at Selhurst Park.

Are Crystal Palace signing Balogun?

Taking to Twitter, Bailey revealed that Crystal Palace have submitted an enquiry for Balogun but should they want to get a deal over the line this summer, are set to face stiff competition for his services from other rivals in the Premier League. He wrote:

“Arsenal tell Folarin Balogun to step up search for new club. Crystal Palace, West Ham, Brentford, Fulham and Everton are among the clubs to have made contact, whilst Lille and RB Leipzig are also keen.”

Expanding in his column for 90min, Arsenal reportedly value their attacker at "over" £30m.

Should Parish & Freedman submit a bid for Balogun?

Crystal Palace will have no doubt been watching Balogun at Stade Reims to have felt the need to enquire about his services, and considering the prolific threat he would bring to that centre-forward role, Steve Parish and Dougie Freedman should absolutely table an offer.

Sponsored by Adidas, the attacker clocked up an impressive 24 goal contributions (21 goals and three assists) in 37 Ligue 1 outings last season alongside recording 121 shots, which was higher than any other member of his squad, as per FBRef.

Arsenal’s “golden” striker, as lauded by talent scout Jacek Kulig, also shares the same agent, Elite Project Group, as Malcolm Ebiowei, so this existing connection that Balogun’s representative already has to the club could give them a small advantage over their competitors.

Chelsea are considering opening a fresh round of discussions to bring Inter Milan goalkeeper Andre Onana to the Premier League, according to reports.

Is Andre Onana leaving Inter Milan?

The Cameroon international still has another four years remaining on his contract at San Siro, but having made 24 Serie A starts from 38 games last season after sharing the gloves with Samir Handanovic who is the club’s captain, he could be looking to secure a move and establish himself as a prominent first-choice elsewhere.

The Athletic credited the Blues with an interest in the 27-year-old three years ago, so they have clearly been long-term admirers, but back in March, Gazzetta Dello Sport reported that they had knocked on his door only to be turned down by the player with Simone Inzaghi’s side also resisting the temptation to cash in.

However, Nizaar Kinsella, who is a journalist for Standard Sport, recently claimed that the shot-stopper is now “open to the move” so he must have had a change of heart, something which Mauricio Pochettino and Todd Boehly are considering capitalising on.

Are Chelsea signing Onana?

According to CaughtOffside, Chelsea could "discuss" Onana once again "in the coming days" when they hold talks with Inter regarding the future of Romelu Lukaku.

The Blues would be "open" to striking a deal for the goalkeeper, though it would likely mean players "moving in the other direction". Manchester United are also pushing to reach an agreement, but the SW6 outfit are not "out of the race" despite initially thinking his price tag of £50m was "too expensive".

Recent reports have suggested that Pochettino is happy to head into the 2023/24 season with Kepa Arrizabalaga as his number one, but with Edouard Mendy having completed a medical to join Al-Ahli, Chelsea’s manager will need a replacement to challenge the Spaniard and Onana could be just the goalkeeper he’s looking for.

Across all competitions last term, he kept 19 clean sheets from 41 appearances and in Serie A made 61 saves from 83 shots on target against, giving him a 73.5% save percentage – higher than both Kepa and Mendy.

Inter’s 6 foot 2 colossus also has a strong range of passing having successfully completed all of his 224 short passes and 98% of his medium length attempts, an attribute that has seen him hailed “exceptional with his feet” by Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, so for such a well-rounded player, it would be a massive coup to secure his services.

With a third bid rejected for Mason Mount, Manchester United could be set to move on from trying to sign the Chelsea star as Erik ten Hag looks at alternative targets ahead of next season.

What’s the latest on Taylor Booth to ManUnited?

According to ESPN, the Old Trafford side could turn to FC Utrecht midfielder Taylor Booth as an enquiry has been made with regard to a potential move during the summer transfer window.

He has a contract at the Dutch side until 2025 and with no fee mentioned, it is unclear how much the American youngster could cost. Although, with Chelsea demanding around £58m, plus £7m in add-ons for Mount, Booth will be valued at a cheaper sum.

Who is Taylor Booth?

Following Chelsea’s recent demands, a move is looking unlikely now, despite the Englishman favouring a move to the Red Devils, and the Dutchman will have to turn to other targets before it’s too late.

Booth was first linked with United way back in February, but it appears as though these links have never gone away, and he could now be an ideal alternative to Mount.

Over the previous 365 days, Booth has displayed his attacking attributes by ranking in the top 2% for progressive carries per 90 (3.25), top 11% for successful take-ons per 90 (1.45) and top 17% for total shots per 90 (1.56) across the next eight leagues in Europe and these figures suggest that he enjoys getting the ball forward as often as possible, while enjoying great success at one on one duels.

Mount, across the big five European leagues, comparatively ranks in the top 15% for progressive carries per 90 (2.41), top 8% for total shots per 90 (2.02) and in just the top 40% for successful take ons per 90 (0.86), indicating that Booth would be a more than adequate alternative for the Englishman.

The 22-year-old has already earned two caps for the United States and enjoyed a stellar campaign for Utrecht last season where he contributed two goals and four assists and showed his versatile nature by playing across four positions and this could be a bonus for Ten Hag should he turn his attention towards the youngster.

His form during 2022/2023 led broadcaster Maximiliano Bretos to state that he was now “getting the rock star treatment at Utrecht” but with only 46 senior appearances behind him, he is still very much in the embryonic stages of his career.

The 5 foot 8 gem may not be the finished article yet, but Ten Hag could take his game to the next level should he move to United, no doubt about it.

Pinpointing a new midfielder to partner Enzo Fernandez at Chelsea is arguably one of Mauricio Pochettino’s biggest challenges, which he simply must get right.

Getting the perfectly curated protector with a tough-tackling ferocity and keen athleticism is a tricky task.

The club has been incessantly linked to Moises Caicedo, however, Brighton are supposedly demanding around £120m for the Ecuadorian’s services.

Nevertheless, a cheaper, more realistic, and attainable alternative has emerged in the form of Aurélien Tchouaméni, whose signing would be a humongous statement of intent from the West Londoners.

What’s the latest on Aurélien Tchouaméni to Chelsea?

According to reports in Spain, the Blues offered €60m (£51m) for the Frenchman which was immediately rejected, and they are planning an improved bid of €80m (£68m), which will give Real Madrid something to think about.

Although far-fetched and extremely ambitious, the 2021 Champions League winners possess a ludicrously excessive budget, which could be shrewdly sprayed upon this ball-winning machine.

Who can Aurélien Tchouaméni emulate at Chelsea?

The 25-cap international joined the 14-time European Champions last summer for €100m (£86m) and made 50 appearances for Los Blancos.

As per FBref, the former Monaco prodigy has been compared to the current talk of the town, Declan Rice, due to their strikingly similar attributes.

Defensively, both these titans are formidable protectors for their backlines, with Tchouaméni averaging slightly better numbers in most departments as he has more tackles per 90 (2.61 vs 2.17), interceptions per 90 (1.98 vs 1.73), clearances per 90 (1.87 vs 1.59), and aerials won per 90 (1.91 vs 1.02), according to FBref.

The £206k-per-week man also outperforms his positional peers in pass completion (92.9% vs 86.5%), but Rice makes more progressive passes.

Tchouaméni’s compatriot Paul Pogba has lauded the sensation for his quality saying: “Very very good. He's not a boy, he's a man.

“It was a pleasure to play next to him. He brings a lot of energy. A lot of energy, and extraordinary technical and physical quality.”

Indeed, that's a review that could well describe Rice too.

The 22-year-old has started every game for his nation at the 2022 World Cup and scored in the 2-1 quarter-final victory over England.

Sky Sports News chief reporter Kaveh Solhekol has said that Chelsea’s new ownership has targeted the world’s “best young players” and Tchouaméni certainly fits that bill.

The pivot ranks within the best 8% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for interceptions, pass completion, and clearances per 90.

For the West London outfit to get back to where it belongs, this is exactly the type of scintillating Rice-like signing to reinvigorate the fanbase with a new-found belief that its new setup can take the club forward.

Leeds United have been on a sharp decline over the past few years since completing an exceptional campaign in 20/21 in their first year back in the Premier League since devastating relegation in 2004.

The proud outfit finished ninth under the master tactician Marcelo Bielsa but spent the ensuing campaign embroiled in a relegation battle before succumbing to the drop this time around, and comprehensive change is now needed to fix the issues and ensure that a coveted return to the top-flight is followed by sustained success.

Many will be shipped on, such is the way in football, but the Whites boast enough power to forge a title bid regardless and must work with diligence to make signings of the highest calibre.

This is why rumours of interest in Coventry City midfielder Gustavo Hamer must be acted upon, with the Whites eyeing a summer transfer for the Brazilian dynamo this summer, according to Football League World.

The publication states that the 49ers are planning to raid this year's defeated Championship play-off finalists for the 25-year-old, who captivated supporters with his performances this term and was touted at £10m last year following interest from Brighton & Hove Albion – though this figure may well have ballooned now.

How good is Gustavo Hamer?

Signing for the Sky Blues from PEC Zwolle for around £1.5m in 2020 after their promotion from League One, Hamer has made 130 appearances and been one of the key components of a side that has made increments to surge into promotion contention.

It is this year that Hamer has truly grown into his skin and tantalised his merit as a destructive midfielder capable of flourishing at the top level, scoring 11 goals and supplying ten assists from 45 outings across all competitions – including two fantastic strikes in the play-offs.

Praised as "unbelievable" by former Coventry City goalkeeper Marko Marosi, Hamer is a first-rate orchestrator for his side and excels through his work rate, tenacity and flair.

As such, he could be the successor to Pablo Hernandez's throne at Elland Road, with the Spaniard integral in securing a path back to prominence at Leeds and heralded as an "unreal" gem who "played like a demon" by The Athletic's Phil Hay.

Posting 36 goals and 41 assists over 175 appearances for the Whites, the 38-year-old maestro's vision, ball-playing technique and footballing intellect left him a revered figure as he orchestrated a return to the top-flight, and Hamer can now adopt the mantle from the middle of the park.

The Coventry ace ranks among the top 4% of midfielders across Men's Next 8 divisions – below the top European five – for rate of non-penalty goals, the top 3% for rate of assists, the top 4% for shot-creating actions, the top 12% for progressive passes, and the top 14% for rate of tackles per 90, as per FBref.

Hernandez, comparatively, averaged 2.1 shots, 2.3 key passes, and 1.3 tackles per game, as per WhoScored, during Leeds' triumphant campaign in 19/20, scoring nine goals and assists apiece from 27 starts in the second tier, outlining his similarity to the club's £5k-per-week transfer target.

Hamer's success lies in variegating his approach, something he achieves with aplomb, and while Coventry will be reluctant to sell him to a promotion-chasing rival, if Leeds succeed after lodging a formal offer they would wield one of the division's brightest stars and their finest catalyst since Hernandez.

Jarrod Bowen has played an important part in West Ham's run to Wednesday's Europa Conference League final, where Serie A side Fiorentina await, but he may face increased competition for a starting place next season…

Who is West Ham target Samuel Chukwueze?

According to reports from Spain, West Ham are interested in adding Villarreal forward Samuel Chukwueze to their squad ahead of next season, with David Moyes looking to improve on a disappointing showing in the Premier League after his side finished down in 14th place.

The 27-cap Nigeria international is coming off the back of his most efficient season yet across five years with the Spanish side, having scored and assisted a combined 11 La Liga goals in 2022-23 – only Nicolas Jackson (16) was directly involved in more for the Yellow Submarine.

Even prior to this season, Chukwueze was a well-known name across Europe after scoring a late equaliser away to Bayern Munich in the 2021-22 Champions League quarter-finals.

That led to plenty of fanfare, with the 24-year-old previously being described by football reporter Zach Lowry as an "exciting talent" for the way he broke into the Villarreal team at an early age and held down his place in the side.

Unsurprisingly given his form this season, which included two goals and a brace in Villarreal's 3-2 win away at Real Madrid in April, Chukwueze has also been touted as a target for the likes of Los Blancos themselves, Arsenal and fellow Premier League side Aston Villa, now managed by ex-Villarreal boss Unai Emery.

Where would Chukwueze fit in at West Ham?

14 of Chukwueze's 27 La Liga starts this season have come as a right-sided forward, as per WhoScored, with the Nigerian known for his ability to get past an opponent and cut inside with his left foot.

Indeed, with 2.3 dribbles per 90 this season, only Rodrygo Goes (2.4), Lee Kang-in (2.5) and Vinicius Junior (3.4) ranked higher in LaLiga.

Villarreal head coach Quique Setien has been full of praise for one of his star men – reportedly available for €50m (£43m) – describing him as a "crazy dribbler" following that high-profile win at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Given his preference of playing on the right and cutting inside, there are obvious comparisons to be made with current West Ham favourite Bowen, who started 30 Premier League games down that same flank this season.

As highlighted by FBref, there are plenty of other similarities between the players, not least that they both scored six goals and assisted five more in their respective leagues this season, albeit Chukwueze played one less game.

There is an argument to be made that Chukwueze can provide West Ham with more efficiency in the final third, though, with his six goals coming from an expected goals (xG) return of 6.5, compared to six goals from an xG of 8.9 for Bowen, showing the latter does not always convert his chances.

Bowen is also far more trigger-happy than Chukwueze, shooting 73 and 60 times respectively in the league this season, though both men hit the target at an almost identical rate (28.8 and 28.3).

Ultimately, after scoring just 42 goals across 38 Premier League games this season at a rate of around 1.1 a game, bringing in a player who can provide both goals and assists can only be a good thing for Moyes' side.

It does not resolve West Ham's need for an out-and-out goalscorer through the middle, but in Chukwueze they will be providing both support and competition for Bowen in what would be a big statement of intent.

West Ham are eyeing defensive reinforcements.

The East Londoners conceded 55 goals in the Premier League this season, the most they’ve allowed in a single campaign since 2020.

David Moyes’ side eventually finished 14th, but at times it was far from comfortable, and their defensive fragility was exposed on multiple occasions.

With the monumental Europa Conference League victory now under their belts, the Irons are set for an active summer and Roma’s Roger Ibanez is understood to be a serious target.

What’s the latest on Roger Ibanez to West Ham?

According to Romagiallorossa.it (via Sport Witness), the Hammers are “in the picture” to sign the 24-year-old, who Jose Mourinho has previously labelled as “untouchable.”

Despite his manager’s huge praise, the Giallorossi may be forced to raise funds of up to €30m (£26m) before the end of the month due to the stringent stakes of Financial Fair Play that are pushing Roma into unwanted sales.

The 2023 Europa Conference League winners are set to be rivalled by Atletico Madrid for the Brazilian’s signature which could cost €40m (£34m).

Would Roger Ibanez be a good signing for West Ham?

The two-cap international has made 33 Serie A appearances for Roma this season, averaging two tackles, two interceptions, and 2.8 clearances per game, whilst committing zero errors leading to shots.

Outside his own team, the 6 foot 1 titan also ranks impressively across the continent. In Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers, Ibanez sits in the top 3% for interceptions per 90, as well as the highest 18% for tackles per 90, according to FBref.

The centre-back also started 12 of his side’s 15 Europa League outings, as they agonisingly lost in the final to Sevilla on penalties.

As per FBref, the defender has been compared to Real Madrid’s Eder Militao. His compatriot has previously been labelled as the “best centre back in the world” by Carlo Ancelotti, who added: “Militao is really quick, really good at one-on-one, really good with the ball and he can head the ball so well.”

The former Porto ace has a phenomenal ability to read the game and is an adept asset with possession. This is showcased by the fact that he manages over two blocks per 90, and ranks within the top 21% for progressive carries.

Militao has evolved as a key figure for Los Blancos and made 12 appearances in their sensational journey to European glory when they beat Liverpool to win the Champions League in 2022.

West Ham's target is yet to reach such illustrious heights but is equally good on the ball, ranking in the top 19% for take-ons attempted and is similarly supreme in the air sitting in the best 14% for percentage of aerials won per 90.

Therefore, with West Ham able to attract big players, Ibanez would be a commendable and huge statement of intent for their unwavering ambition next term.